provided to The Santiva Chronicle
Tarpon Bay Explorers, the official J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge concessionaire, recently welcomed two new staff members. Emma Engel and Austyn Feigenbaum were hired last month in anticipation of a busier holiday season and next year’s ‘in-season’.
“It has been a while since we’ve been able to hire new people,” said General Manager Adam Sauerland. “We went from over 30 employees to two post Ian, so adding people to our Tarpon Bay family is a nice change of pace,” said Sauerland.
Austyn Feigenbaum – Naturalist
Feigenbaum hails from the Carolinas. Feigenbaum grew up in Greenville, South Carolina, but spent the past few years living in North Carolina. Feigenbaum is very familiar with the area as her Great Aunt introduced her to the island and “Ding” Darling as a young girl, and it has been her go-to spot ever since.
Feigenbaum recently graduated from Furman University with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental and Conservation Biology. She is eager to spend time on the water with visitors, helping them observe and discover the wildlife within the refuge.
What excites her most is experiencing the bigger picture — how everything in the mangrove ecosystem is interconnected, and she considers it one big classroom. Feigenbaum is also looking forward to teaching about bird diversity and how their behavior is shaped by the environment we find them in.
Feigenbaum explained, “I also have a great affinity for the Florida manatee. Manatees are some of the most peaceful creatures to watch, and it is incredible how they have evolved from elephants, are sensitive to touch, and grow massively with a herbivorous diet.”
In Feigenbaum’s free time, she prefers to be outside. She loves to garden, go for runs, walk on the beach, snorkel, and scuba dive.
Emma Engel – Naturalist
Engel came down to join the Explorer family from Columbus, Indiana. Engel recently graduated from Purdue University with a Bachelor of Science with minors in Wildlife Science and Environmental Politics and Policy.
Engel saw Tarpon Bay’s listing on social media and decided to throw her name in the hat. Engel was drawn to the position because she saw an opportunity to find ways to make science accessible and engaging for people of all ages. She is always looking for creative approaches to connect people with nature through hands-on activities, storytelling, or interactive programs.
Engel hopes to inspire a sense of responsibility and stewardship beyond their visit to Tarpon Bay and “Ding” Darling. Since Engel is new to the area, she enjoys exploring local restaurants. Engel loves shelling on the beach and using her finds for crafting projects. She also enjoys taking her dog to local parks and nature trails.
Engel also hopes to find a recreational volleyball league to join soon — she exclaims, “It’s one of my favorite ways to stay active and meet new people.”
Tarpon Bay Explorers invites you to meet their expanding family and experience their many adventures. Tarpon Bay Explorers is open Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; rentals stop at 3 p.m. Updated holiday hours will be announced in the coming weeks. Call 239-472-8900 for information and reservation or visit their website at http://www.tapronbayexplorers.com
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